Romance or lack of it
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Re: Romance or lack of it
- kandscreeley
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I don't mind romance, but it has to be built up for me. It can't just all of a sudden boom there together. It leaves you feeling like, "What just happened??" I don't like that. Not realistic.Jax14 wrote:The romance is not absolutely necessary but I like it when it's unexpected-there is nothing worse than an author putting two characters together just for the sake of it and building it up and building it up and 500 pages into the book they get together and the rest of the characters are surprised it happened!
—Neil Gaiman
- bobRas
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I think there needs to be a distinction between (a) couples that the authors wants us to believe will be together for a significant amount of time (or "forever") after the book ends, and (b) couples that simply hookup after some initial attraction. (a) would arguably need quite some build up, while (b) does not so much, right?kandscreeley wrote:I don't mind romance, but it has to be built up for me. It can't just all of a sudden boom there together. It leaves you feeling like, "What just happened??" I don't like that. Not realistic.Jax14 wrote:The romance is not absolutely necessary but I like it when it's unexpected-there is nothing worse than an author putting two characters together just for the sake of it and building it up and building it up and 500 pages into the book they get together and the rest of the characters are surprised it happened!
- kandscreeley
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Yes, however, I have read books where there doesn't even seem to be attraction. The author doesn't even write in an attraction for scenario (b), and the couple is all of a sudden in the bedroom. It's just weird and awkward. For example, in Raven's Peak, if Mr. Cole had written them stopping in the middle of their road trip at a hotel just to have sex. I have seen that done even though there really was no indication of any "spark."bobRas wrote:I think there needs to be a distinction between (a) couples that the authors wants us to believe will be together for a significant amount of time (or "forever") after the book ends, and (b) couples that simply hookup after some initial attraction. (a) would arguably need quite some build up, while (b) does not so much, right?kandscreeley wrote:I don't mind romance, but it has to be built up for me. It can't just all of a sudden boom there together. It leaves you feeling like, "What just happened??" I don't like that. Not realistic.Jax14 wrote:The romance is not absolutely necessary but I like it when it's unexpected-there is nothing worse than an author putting two characters together just for the sake of it and building it up and building it up and 500 pages into the book they get together and the rest of the characters are surprised it happened!
—Neil Gaiman
- bobRas
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I'm not sure I understand correctly. I thought we were talking about romance and not sex? People have sex for plenty other reasons than attraction or romance or "spark", right? I mean, I agree that it would be weird and awkward for these characters in particular, but for others, I could imagine it. It depends on characterization.kandscreeley wrote:Yes, however, I have read books where there doesn't even seem to be attraction. The author doesn't even write in an attraction for scenario (b), and the couple is all of a sudden in the bedroom. It's just weird and awkward. For example, in Raven's Peak, if Mr. Cole had written them stopping in the middle of their road trip at a hotel just to have sex. I have seen that done even though there really was no indication of any "spark."bobRas wrote:I think there needs to be a distinction between (a) couples that the authors wants us to believe will be together for a significant amount of time (or "forever") after the book ends, and (b) couples that simply hookup after some initial attraction. (a) would arguably need quite some build up, while (b) does not so much, right?kandscreeley wrote:
I don't mind romance, but it has to be built up for me. It can't just all of a sudden boom there together. It leaves you feeling like, "What just happened??" I don't like that. Not realistic.
- bookowlie
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- Amagine
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I will admit that I hate when a romance destroys the plot. I love having romance in a story but not at the expense of the plot.bookowlie wrote:I prefer no romance unless it fits well within the plot. This is hard to do. Authors too often throw in a flirtation or romance between the main characters. It sometimes takes away from the central plot, such as a mystery, thriller, or political intrigue.
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- godreaujea
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- cherryalakei
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- James Craft
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Yeah, I agree. I would like to see romance develop organically and not worry too much about it just sort of popping up.normindrasarawi wrote:Adding some romance without ruining the main plot gives an extra excitement to the story. However, the book is still great without it and I think it’s unique. So for me, either way is acceptable.
- Amagine
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